Cathie, Just wanted to add - I was only speaking in the context of the blogging teachers.

Couldn't agree with you more that most teachers are very dedicated. I mentioned memories of humiliating class moments, well, I definitely have more memories of a few fantastic teachers - both mine and my stepdaughter's.

I was taught to always leave my door open, never touch a student and never ever be in your classroom with only one student. That was the result of teachers fearing misinterpretation and false accusations. It is possible to follow those guides and still create a positive learning environment.

I wonder how new this is. One of my kids worked one-on-one with a teacher back in the late eighties/early nineties. He was withdrawn from class on a rregular basis. when activities in the hallway were noisy, the door would be shut. It was a male teacher, openly gay. He worked one-on-one with a lot of students, and sometimes the door was shut.

_________________self: allergy to sesame seeds and peanuts
3 sons each with at least one of the following allergies: peniciilin, sulfa-based antibiotic, latex, insect bites/stings

We have excellent policies in place already in the schools, Mr.
Speaker, and that’s because the School Act fundamentally says that
schools have to be safe and caring. They have to provide a safe
environment. We have to legislate anaphylactic policy. We
legislate against bullying. We legislate against – well, you name it.
We can just legislate everything and make everybody safe.
The School Act says that we have to create safe and caring
schools. Every single teacher, every single principal, every single
student, every single parent works together on policies, procedures,
and day-to-day operations to ensure that safety. Just because
something might or might not be in legislation does not mean that
it’s weak because it’s not in legislation or assured because it is. It all
comes down to people and how vigilant they are and whether or not
the actual day-to-day policies are in place.

I worry when a group of people (in a highly trusted area, there are many) are trusted just because of what there job is. People are people everywhere, no one profession is immune and to trust that all people are kind and caring is not a smart thing to do. There does need to be checks and balances. Especially when it comes to those who can't (for many reasons) defend themselves.

edited to add - I do not agree with Mr Griffiths, whom I quoted above. btw he voted against Motions 504, he is a former teacher (I understand) and is now in the running for Alberta Premier.

Btw, I have several teachers on my friend list. they are all people I know personally, not professionally. None interact with their students or students parents through facebook. and all show the same respect and professionalism on their page as they do IRL. I have never seen any posts that made me cringe. I honestly think this is how most teachers are.

within the link, there is a part about a teacher using a facebook group page for his students to interact. I really think that's a bad idea. It is quite simple to set up a free web page for your students to interact and post pictures. I hope the teachers using facebook that way have students high school age, not elementary or middle school

_________________self: allergy to sesame seeds and peanuts
3 sons each with at least one of the following allergies: peniciilin, sulfa-based antibiotic, latex, insect bites/stings

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